Patriots shock Red Devils with safeties

PALESTINE — What early appeared a pat hand for Mountain Pine crumpled under a pair of deuces.

Two fourth-quarter safeties carried host Palestine-Wheatley, once down 21-0, to a 36-35 victory in the first round of the Class

2A playoffs Friday night.

The Patriots trapped Mountain Pine in its end zone twice in the last 4:57, scoring the final two-pointer with 1:20 left and running out the clock after accepting the Red Devils’ free kick.

Palestine-Wheatley surged ahead 32-28 before Elijah Browning’s two-yard run and an extra point regained the lead for Mountain Pine, 35-32 with 1:19 left in the third quarter. The Red Devils led 28-20 after Smith passed 23 yards to Kason Porter for a touchdown with 7:35 left in the period.

Mountain Pine led 21-0 after second-quarter touchdowns by Browning and Collin Smith, Fay Haywood converting the twopoint play after Smith’s two-yard quarterback keeper with 9:46 before halftime. Palestine-Wheatley pulled within 21-14 before the break, the Patriots gaining momentum with a fourth-down interception after the Red Devils reached the host team’s 31.

Palestine-Wheatley led 32-28 after two quick third-quarter touchdowns, one after recovering its own onside kick. Defense helped the Patriots withstand two interceptions by Haywood and turning the ball over on downs at the Mountain Pine 11, all in the fourth quarter.

Palestine-Wheatley (9-2), third from 2A-6, stays in St. Francis County for a second-round game Friday night against Salem (55), a surprise road winner over 2A-5 top seed Hector. The Greyhounds won 41-35 in Pope County despite seeded fifth from 2A-3.

Coming off an 0-10 season, Mountain Pine (7-4) had the

most wins in Garland County despite losing its last three games. The Red Devils were seeded third from 2A-7 after conference losses to Mount Ida and Foreman, both winning by shutout Friday night.